Hartland Point Lighthouse

Hartland Point is a 325ft (99m) high rocky
outcrop of land on the north western tip of the Devon coast. It is
three miles (5km) north west of the village of Hartland. The point marks the
western limit (on the English side) of the Bristol Channel with the Atlantic
Ocean continuing to the west. This location was known to the Romans as the
"promontory of Hercules".

The Lighthouse

Trinity House have a lighthouse on the tip of
the peninsula. Built in 1874 under the direction of Sir James Douglass, the
tower is 18m tall with the lamp being 37m above mean high sea level.

The lighthouse is on large rock at the tip of
the point, and was threatened by the undermining action of the sea to such an
extent that rock had to be broken from the cliff head behind the lighthouse, to
fall on the beach, and form a barrier against the waves. An action that had to
be repeated at frequent intervals as north westerly gales washed away what
had been deposited when they coincided with a high spring tide. A permanent
barrier, and a sea wall 30 metres long and 6 metres high was built in 1925 to
overcome this need.

The tower was automated in 1984 and is now
controlled from Trinity House Operations Centre at Harwich in Essex.

Dave Wilkinson

Prior to automation the lighthouse was built
with accommodation for four keepers and their families.

The keepers' houses have since been demolished
(1984) to make room for a Helipad to be constructed. This was necessary due to the
precarious nature of the access road which is liable to frequent rock falls and
landslips.

In January 2010, Trinity House proposed that
the light be deactivated, but after many protests it agreed in May to continue
the light at reduced power.

Vehicular access is now very difficult and the
gates tend to remain locked. The road to the lighthouse is gated at a parking
area for the
South West Coastal Path.

The large concrete structures immediately to
the south of the lighthouse were to provide the keepers with fresh water.

Old postcard, probably 1930's,
shows the lighthouse before the residential units (houses)
were demolished in 1984 to make room for a helipad

Coastal Path

The
South West Coastal Path
was formerly an aid to the Coastguard who needed to be able to travel from
station to station on foot while being able to keep an eye on the sea to spot
for smugglers. The path stays close to the edge of the cliffs on its journey
through Hartland Point and it is an ideal way to explore the point, its
landmarks and the scenery.

A View from below
Dave Wilkinson

Coastguard lookout and radar golf ball

A coastguard lookout station is on top of the
point near the lighthouse but this is usually unmanned.

Also above the point is a a radar
station controlled from nearby RAF Hartland Point. This is used for air traffic
control of both military and civilian aircraft. The unusual white dome topped
structure can be seen from distances of up to 10 miles (16km) from the point.

On 31 December 1982 the Panama-registered,
Dutch owned MS Johanna was driven aground on rocks less than 400m from the
lighthouse during strong gales. The cargo ship was carrying wheat from The
Netherlands up the Bristol Channel towards Cardiff. Four of the crew were
rescued by a helicopter from RAF Chivenor. Three officers were taken off later
in the day by the RNLI lifeboat from Clovelly. The decaying remains of the hull
can still be seen.

The MV Johanna, January 1983, as she looked when first wreckedPhoto by
Bob Parkes

Less of the ship survives but
parts can still be identified
Photo by
Richard
Greenwood

Visitors can find out about the lighthouse in the nearby Hartland Quay
Museum.

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